Water cooling apparatus



Sept. 4, 1934. F. R. ERBACH WATER COOLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1, 1930 H m b B IL 7. a M BBQNSLQ m wW/ E: 4 M 4 e 8 8 7 w 3 /7/77/? a I 7 8 a 9 3 m I W lllllllll l1 64 3 6 @M 4 m m a a f 8 3 a m INVENTOR 6M 128M /flw k/ ATTORNEY Sept. 4, 1934.- F. R. ERBACH WATER COOLING APPARATUS Filed March 1, 19 O 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (4M wuz Patented Sept. 4, 1934 PATENT OFFIC 1,972,079 WATER COOLING APPARATUS Frederick R. Erbach,-Detroit, Mich, assignor to Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a 'corpcration of Michigan a Application-March 1, 1930, Serial No. 432,365

*3 Claims. (01. 62-141) This' invention relates to refrigeration apparatus and has particular relation to refrigeration apparatus which shall be) especially applicable for cooling liquids.

An object of the invention is to provide a general arrangement of the .elements embodied in a liquid cooler that canbe-manufactured at a relatively low cost. p

Another object of the inventionris to provide a refrigerant evaporating unit for a liquid cooler which consists of a relatively small number of easily manufactured parts capable of being readily assembled into an operable unit.

For a better understanding'of the invention,

7 reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in

which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view ofa liquid cooler having certain portions of the structure broken away in order to show the interior thereof in cross section. .7 x P Figure 2;is a cross sectional view of another form of liquid cooler in which the invention is embodied. Figure 3 is across sectional view of another form of refrigerant evaporator which may be embodied in the structures disclosed by Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the evaporator disclosed by Figure 3.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are cross sectional views of stillother formsof evaporators embodying the invention which may be incorporated in the water coolers disclosed by Figures 1 and 2.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2,

a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a sheet metal outercasing 10 divided into an upper refrigerating compartmentll and a lower machine compartment 12. condensing unit 13 (Fig. 2), consisting of a motor 14, compressor 16 and condenserl'bis mounted on a frame or support 18 which is disposed on resilient balls 19'seated in openings formed in the upper surface of a rectangular frame member 21. The lower part of the casing 10: is rigidly secured to the outer edge surfaces of the frame member 21 and the latter supports the entire structure upon legs 22 secured to the lowersur'face thereof. 3

Refrigerant liquid is supplied from' the condensing unit through a liquid supply line 23, which communicates at one end with the condenser 1'7 and at the opposite end with a fitting 24 secured to a head 26 closingan openingin a refrigerant evaporating unit 27. A needle valve 28, controllingthe admission of fluid from the fitting 24 to the interior of the evaporating Lmit, is pivotally connected as indicated at 29 to a bell crank 31 which is pivoted, as indicated at 32, upon an end portion of a support 33 projecting from the inner surface of the head 26. A float 34 is connected to the opposite end of the crank 31 and by moving up and down as the level of refrigerant in the interior of the evaporating unit rises and falls, it controls the admission of liquid refrigerant into-the interior of the evaporating unit.

Refrigerant fluid, when evaporated, is withdrawn from the evaporating unit 2'7 through a fitting36 connected to the head26, anda conduit 37, which is connected between the fitting and a suction service valve 38 associated with the low side of thecompressor 16. The low side of the refri gerating system also is connected by a conduit 39 to a pressure controller 41 bywhich the operation of the motor 14 is initiated and discontinued. I

The head 26 is secured by bolts 42 to a flanged plate 43 which is welded or otherwise .secured to one end of a cylindrical sleeve or shell44 in which therefrigerant fluid is contained. A second shell 46 is disposed inspaced relation around the shell 44, and annular plates 47 and 48 are welded or otherwise suitably secured between the shells to provide a closed chamber between them.

Flanged annular fins 49, secured on the exterior surface, of the shell 44 and projecting into the space between the shells, provideincreased heat exchanging or transmitting. surface therebecommunication between the spaces on'opposite sides thereof. A refrigerant Cork. or other suitable insulating. material 51 is disposed in the space between the evaporating unit 2'7 and the refrigerating compartment 11 of the casing 10 for the purposeofthermally isolating the refrigerating elements. 7

Water, or other liquid which the apparatus may be employed to cool, is admitted from a suitable source of supply (not shown),,through may be manipulated to initiate the discharge of fluid therefrom.

The upper wall 62 of the casing 10, is provided with a depressed. portion 63 forming a sump or well into which liquid overflowing the bubbler 59 may be collected. A drain pipe 64, connected to the depressed portion 63, projects downwardly therefrom, through the insulating mate-- rial 51 between the evaporating unit 27 and the casing 11, and out through the casing at the bottom. A perforated disk 66, having a centering device 67 projecting downwardly therefrom into the conduit 64, prevents the entrance of large objects into the discharge-conduit. lower end of the conduit64 is secured rigidly to the casing 11 by means of a pair of lock nuts 68 associated with the conduit on opposite sides of that portion of the casing. A T-coupling 69 and elbow 71, connect the lower end of the conduit 64 to a conduit '72 communicating with any suitable reservoir for receiving waste material.

In the structure disclosed by Figure 1, the shell 46 is entirely closed at one end, as indicated at '73, and is provided with a flange 74 at the opposite end thereof by which the shellis secured, by means of bolts Z7, between the retaining ring 76 and the flanged disk 43. Also in this structure, the liquid to be cooled is discharged from an in verted bottle 78 which is supported adjacent its neck on a resilient ring 79 of rubber, or other suitable material, disposed in an annular enlarged portion v81 formed at the top of ametallic receiver 82.. The receiver 32 is further reduced as indicated at 83, to provide an annular shoulder which is supported adjacent an opening in the upper wall 62 ofthe casing 10. A lower portion 84, of the receiver, projecting through the aforesaid opening, is connected at its lower extremity by a coupling 86 with the spacebetween the shells46 and 44. 7 I

Liquid is discharged from the space between the aforesaid shells through a conduit 87 connected therewith and projecting outwardly through the casing 10 where it is provided witha fitting 88 to which a spigot 89 is attached.

A waste collecting basin 91 disposedbelow the spigot 89' and secured to the casing 10 by an up wardly projecting flange portion 92, is'provided with a discharge opening 93 from which waste liquid is discharged from the basin into a reservoir 94. The front'of the reservoir is flanged outwardly, as indicated at 96, to provide a passage through which used drinking cups may be inserted. The reservoir is supported by brackets 97 projecting from the upper rear portion thereof through openings inthe casing 15) large enough to permit the entrance therein of downwardly projecting lugs 98. When placing the reservoir 94 in position beneath the basin 91, it is necessary only to project the brackets 9'7 through the openings in the casing and permit the lugs'98 to slide downwardly behind the portions of the casing 10 adjacent which the openings therein are formed. Whenever it is. desirable to remove the reservoir for the purpose of emptying it, the reservoir is merely elevated until the lugs can be withdrawn through the openings. 1

The form of the invention disclosed by Figures 3 a pluralityof loops 99. The loops are arranged in alignment from'one end of the shell 44 .to the The form of. the invention, refrigerant fluid is ad- 'end thereof, a fluid discharge conduit'communiacross the chamber substantially perpendicularly other with their ends welded or otherwise secured in openings formed in the shell in spaced parallel planes on opposite sides of the vertical plane occupied by the shell axis.

In the structure disclosed by Figure 5, the shell 46 is substantially longer than the shell 44 in order to provide space for receiving a plurality of tubes 101 whichare secured at one end to the end wall of the shell 44, while the opposite ends of the tubes are closed and sealed as indicated at 102.

The structure disclosed by Figure 6 is substantially the same as that disclosed by Figure 5 except thatthe mutual axes of the shells 44 and 46 are vertical rather than horizontal. In this mitted and discharged through openings formed in the .upper horizontal Wall of the structure. The admission of refrigerant fluid is controlled by a vertical float valve structure 103, in which a pair of links 104 are supported at their outer ends on lugs 106 projecting beneath a ring 107 which is sweated or otherwise secured on an inwardly projecting cylindrical portion 108 of the evaporator head 26. The adjacent ends of the links 104 are seated in an annular groove formed in a ring 109 rigidly secured adjacent the upper end of a needle valve 111, which, at its upper end operatively engages a removable valve seat 112, and at its lower end slidably-en'gages an opening formed in a boss 113 secured rigidly to the lower end'of the inner shell 44. A float 116, surrounding the needle valve 111, actuates the latter through lugs 11'! projecting downwardly from intermediate portions of the links 104 in such relation to'the float as to be engagedthereby when it is elevated. i

Figure 7 discloses a structure employing an inner shell 44 which is spirally corrugated to providea continuous spiral channel between it and the shell 46. Fluid to be cooled is circulated 115 through such channel from one end of the shells to the other between admission anddischarge ports 114." r v It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations and changes maybe made in the preferred forms'of the invention without departing from its spirit or from the scope of the appended claims.

1. In a fluid cooler, the combination of a pair of casings disposed one within'the'other, said casings being spaced apart to provide a chamber for fluid to be cooled, a plurality of heat-exchanging fins interposed between the casings, each of said fins being provided at its periphery with an opening therethrough for the passage of fluid to be cooled, the openings in adjacent fins being diametrically opposed, a fluid supply conduit communicating with the chamber adjacent one 13.5 eating with the chamber at a point remote from the supply conduit, and means for supplying and discharging refrigerant fluid to and from'the interior casing.

2. In a fluid cooler, the combination of a pair of horizontally arranged cylindrical casings disposed one'within the other, said casings being spaced apart to provide achamber for fluid to be cooled, a plurality of fins disposed in-thermal contact with the inner casing and extending to the walls thereof, each of said fins being provided at its periphery with an opening for the passage of fluid to be cooled, the openings in adjacent flns being diametrically opposed, a fluid sup- 15G the passage of fluid to be cooled, the openings in adjacent fins being diametrically opposed, a liquid supply conduit connected to the exterior casing, a liquid discharge conduit connected to the exterior casing in a region remote from the supply conduit so that fluid supplied to said casing must pass through each of said openings successively, and means for supplying and discharging a cooling medium to and from the interior casing.

FREDERICK R. ERBA CH. 

